A great read

After some of the reviews I was a little worried about this one but I have thoroughly enjoyed the book. I find that Tana French is going from strength to strength with her first books being alright but not really standing out from the crowd but Broken Harbour and The Secret Place are excellent. I love the description in this, there's just enough to paint a picture, very much show, not tell, and not so much as to overdo it. There is quality in her writing, such as one finds in good, gritty poetry. The story is good and the narration spot on. There was some criticism of the language used, too much "like" and "Irishisms" but that's how people talk in Dublin so is perfectly realistic. The two main detective characters were very well rendered and the girls totally believable. I didn't find the story too long because the writing has sufficient quality to be able to savour that length, it's not all about how fast you can get to the end.

12 people found this helpful

Far too long

This started off promisingly. An old fashioned closed community whodunnit. About 4 hours in I started to toil. Not enough action, far too much slow-paced detail. The narration is pretty good if somewhat annoying because much of it is told in the voice of teenage girls which wears thin after a while. I kept going till it was clear who had done it and then gratefully abandoned the remaining few hours. It's put me off reading/listening to another Tana French.

8 people found this helpful

Feels like it will never end!

I had read Broken Harbour and found it quite good. The basic plot of this book is also ok, but the telling is just sooo long drawn out. Endless conversation, annoying dialogue (ok, this is often from teenagers, but did some of the 'in' expressions like 'hello?' and 'like' have to be used quite so relentlessly?) I didn't actually like any of the characters, and towards the end of this 20 hour marathon I found I was listening more to just get the book out of the way than because I actually cared 'whodunnit'. Might be less irritating if read rather than listened to, but I doubt it.

5 people found this helpful

Overlong, overheated, overwrought

It took me along time to engage with this book, in fact I gave up for a couple of days before I tried again. In an audiobook, the ghastly AQI, use of smartarse 'hello?', and the inevitable, ubiquitous 'like' spattered between every other word, had me gritting my teeth. I found the characters, when not stereotypical, over thoughtful. No disrespect, but do teenage girls really have such complex thought processes? The pace of the story I found unconvincing..... Would the police have the luxury of such extensive interviewing of a minor? And then another, and another.......

My very first response was that the author was trying just a little too hard. I remember thinking, "'A Secret History' this is not." That particular book gripped from the start, and never lost pace. By contrast, this went on and on and on, with extensive ruminating from all parties, while I basically lost the will to live. I really lost patience with it a few times, thinking, " for goodness sake, GET ON WITH IT.'

Some books do not transfer well to audio. Others are enhanced by the medium. I think possibly this book would not be quite so annoying to physically read. At least, there wouldn't be the constant grating teen-speak. That should be a crime, never mind the murder.

It's going to be a while before I tackle another Tana French novel, if I ever do. Both this book, and 'Broken Harbour' I found unconvincing , and evoked the terse comment, 'as if' from me.

8 people found this helpful

Really Great Read

What made the experience of listening to The Secret Place the most enjoyable?

Fantastic writing Style, great narration, good mix between narrators - keeps the pace of the story up. The author has a great feel for the real Dublin - characters are well portrayed.

What other book might you compare The Secret Place to, and why?

All Tana French novels are similar in theme - Faithful Place would be the Closest to it though as Some characters appear in both.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Hard to pick out one in particular - I enjoyed the pace and increase in suspense as the book comes to a colse

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I found it very hard to turn off but it is a very long book.

Any additional comments?

I've listened to most of Tana's books - you cant go wrong with any of them!

3 people found this helpful

Unique and absorbing!

Would you listen to The Secret Place again? Why?

Yes definitely! I know other readers found the teenage lingo irritating but being a teacher myself, I found it quite convincing and an interesting detailed and unusual plotline as well

Who was your favorite character and why?

Holly. She tries to help and support her friends in quite a mature way for her age.

Which character – as performed by Stephen Hogan and Lara Hutchinson – was your favourite?

I liked all the teenage girls! Especially Joanne's voice.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I think the tag line on the book cover is great - I know who killed him.

3 people found this helpful

Hello! what happened to the story?

I liked it a lot to begin with but then, somewhere in the middle, nothing more happened. The story lost pace and I read on in hope of that something was going to happen, but frankly, no. It was as the author herself lost interest in it. A bit disappointed.

2 people found this helpful

Is this really for adults?

What disappointed you about The Secret Place?

Nowhere near as good as her previous books. I'm not even sure this is a book for adults. Far more suited in the teenage fiction category.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

1 person found this helpful

Atmospheric

This really catches the ethereal, spiritual world of young girls on the verge of growing up. Haunting writing.

Far too long

I did finish it .......eventually, but not sure why as I found it very irritating. This book needs a good editor and should be marketed as 'teen literature'. The endless thoughts of teenage girls are not going to be appealing to most adults.